Electric cut-out.



No. 69|,394. Patented 1an. 2l, |902.

H. E. LEPPERT.

ELECTRIC CUT-DUT..A i

4(Applieation led Apr. 16. 1901.)

(No Model.)

Weit/@asses I UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

I-INRY E. LEPPERT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,394, dated January 21, 1 902. Application nea April 16, 1901. seria No. 56.094. ci@ maar.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRYE. LEPPERT, a citizen of the United States, andare'sident of New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Cut-Outs, of which the following kis a specifi` cation.

The object of my invention is to provide a cut-out in which the cap and base shallbe connected by means independent of the contacts and positive in character--that is, means not dependent upon the interengagemeut of hooked or bent parts by means of which the cap and base are fastened together by a rotary movement of one upon the other.

A preferred form of device in which my invention is embodied is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, like letters referring to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure l is a plan view of the base. Fig. 2 is a view looking at the inner side of the cap. Fig. 3 is a View in central vertical'section of the parts in position for assembling. Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the cut-out with parts broken away to show construction.

In the accompanyingdrawings, the letter u, denotes the base of the cut-out, which is made of any convenient insulating material, the parts being'so constructed as to fit together in any convenient manner. Contacts are secured to t-he base as by means of screws c', and they are preferably formed of a strip of metal bent to shape, as shown, the inner end c being turned to present a flat surface substantially parallel to the face of the base and the outer end bent up to form a C-shaped loop in which the line-wire is secured, as by means of a clamp-screw c2. There are preferably two of these contacts located on diametrically opposite sides of the base.

The cap b is provided with contacts d, secured to the cap, as by means of screws d',

these contacts being arranged in position tov register and make contact with the dat surface of the base-contacts when the cap and base are properly secured together. It is preferred that the contacts d be formed of spring metal and bent to shape, so that they will be held with a yielding pressure upon the surface of the part c of the contact, although this resiliency may exist and be provided in either the contacts CZ or the part c of the contact.

It is intended that the base and the cap shall be formed with fastening means adapted to engage each other, but that before these two independent portions of the cut-out are closed upon each other the contacts cl and the part c of the contact shall rest the one against the other and the fastening means provided for pressing these two parts upon each other with some force, so as to insure a complete contact.

Indexing means to insure the proper engagement of the contacts on thecap with the contacts on the base are provided, and in the preferred form this is accomplished by so forming the base near its edge that the contact projects from the face of the base, and the flanged edge b of the cap b has a socket b2, in which the base-contact lies when the base and cap are assembled, and these two parts are held against rotation one on the other.

In the center of the base a a socket-piece e is located and projects outward, this socketpiece being preferably threaded on the inside to receive the threaded shank of a tubular plug f, the broadened head of which projects over the edge of the central opening in the cap through which the plug extends to the outside. The socket-piece e is forked or cutaway on opposite sides to provide for the passage of the lamp-wires g g', which pass through the opening in the plug and extend in opposite directions from the clam p-screws h,which in turn are connected in the usual manner by fuses t' with the contact ci, any form of binding-screws being used.

When the cut-out is located in proper position for use, the cap with the lamp-wires is secured to the base by joining the cap and base and screwing the plug firmly intoV the socket'member of the base, the several parts then having the relative position as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In prior devices in which the cap is secure to the base by interengaging means requiring the` rotation of one member with reference to the other the parts are liable to work loose by any swing or vibrating motion of the lamp-wire and also by a rot-ation caused by pulling strains that are forced upon the lamp- IOO Wire in moving the lamp about. In that form of cut-out in which the cap and base are secured together by means which include the contacts there is the objection that the latter are liable to become loosened and disarranged and uncertain electrical contact results after a comparatively short use. Bymy improved device the lamp-wires are securely clamped between the end of the plug and the edge of the slot in the socket through which these lamp-wires extend, so that the wires are securely held. The contacts on the respective parts are positive in their engagement, those on the base coming squarely in contact with those on the cap and held firmly in engagement by fastening means independent of these contacts, and the result is that the cap and base in my improved cut-'out are held iirmly together, With no danger or chance of separation by accident in the ordinary use of the lamp or other device connected with it. Even an extreme strain upon the wire,which inthe old forms of cut-out might render the structure inoperative,will not at all interfere or aect the maintenance of proper electrical contact of the parts of my device.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cut-out, in combination with the base having electrical contacts, a cap having electrical contacts, and means independent of the contacts for securing the cap and base together and including interengaging parts secured to the cap and base and one of which has an opening for the passage of line-wires.

2. In a cut-out in combination with the base having electrical contacts, a cap having electrical contacts, and means for securing the base and cap together and including a socket-piece and plug adapted tointerengage and one of which has an opening for the passage of line-Wires.

3. In a cut-out, in combination with tle base having electrical contacts, a cap having electrical contacts, a socketpiece located on the base, and a plug having an opening for Wires and engaging the threaded socket in the base whereby the base and cap are held together.

4. In a cut-out, in combination with the base having electrical contacts, a cap having electrical contacts, a socket-piece located on one ot' said parts and having a shoulder, a

plug adapted to engage the threaded opening in the socket and to clamp the wires against said shonlder,said socket-piece and plug holding the cap and base-together.

5. 'In a cut-out, in combination with the base having electrical contacts, a cap having electrical contacts, a socket-piece located on one of said parts, an opening through the sides of the socket-piece for the reception of Wires, and a plug arranged to engage the threaded opening in the socket-piece to hold the base and cap together.

6. In a cutout, in combination with the base having electrical contacts, a cap having electrical contacts, a socket-piece located on the base and having slots on diametrically opposite sides, and a plug having a central opening for the reception of lamp-wires and arranged to engage the threaded opening in the socket-piece.

7. In an electric cut-out, in combination with the base having contacts, a cap having contacts, a socket-piece located on the base and having slots oppositely arranged for the reception of lamp-Wires, a plug extending through the cap and having a central opening for the lamp-Wires, a shoulder to engage the cap, and a threaded part to engage the threaded opening in the socket-piece whereby the cap and base are held together.

8. In a cut-out, in combination with the base having electrical contacts7 a cap having electrical contacts, Wires passing through the cap and extending in opposite directions, a socket-piece on one of said parts, a plug having a central opening for the lamp-wires on the opposite part, said plug and socket-piece being adapted to engage each other to hold the base and cap together.

9. In an electrical cutout, in combination with a base having contacts, a'cap vhaving contacts, a socket-piece located on the base, a plug located on the cap and having an opening for the reception of lamp-wires, said plug and socket being adapted to engage each other by a rotary movement of one of said parts whereby the cap and base are held to gether.

HENRY E. LEPPERT.

Vitnesses:

CHAs. L. BURDETT, ERMA l). COFFIN.

IOO 

